In Act 2 Scene 2 At Gad’s Hill we are once again shown how Hal lacks maturity. The Prince of Wales and Poins fool Falstaff by hiding his horse and stealing back off him what he has just stole off some travellers. Hal continues to insult Falstaff by calling him “fat guts”.
Act 2 Scene 4 is a very important scene in the play and is arguably the funniest in all of Shakespeare’s works. Hal is continuously acting the clown. When Francis is called over Hal plays another practical joke as Hal asks as many questions as he can think of Francis can not answer them as he is being beckoned by Poins in the background. This is only done for a cheap laugh like most of Hal’s actions up to this point. Hal is still not taking life seriously. . This light-hearted atmosphere remains as Falstaff arrives with his band of merry men looking worse for wear. Poins’ prediction comes true as Falstaff proceeds to tell and exaggerated and ever changing story of the robbery that took place. Falstaff believes “Eleven buckram men grown out of two!” Hal does however come forward and admits to being the instigator of this event. Hal asks “what trick hast thou now?” as he knows Falstaff will reply with an excuse. This shows just how much fun Hal as by teasing Falstaff. Hal’s absolute lack of care for his responsibilities come to light when a royal messenger appears who demands the Prince of Wales’ presents in the royal court the next morning. Falstaff teases Hal about the seriousness of the news that Mortimer, Worcester and Hotspur are going to attack the king’s men. Hal throws “Art thou not horribly afraid” back at Falstaff, as he calmly replies “Not a whit”. To emphasise this Hal and Falstaff act out the meeting between father and son. The comedy pair take this opportunity to insult eachother even further. The act is interrupted by a knock on the door and it is the local sheriff who is in search of Falstaff and the others. The Prince of Wales takes this chance to so his disrespect for the law as he denies that the robbers are there knowing that the sheriff must trust his word. This scene of comedy has a very strong and serious message in it. Hal’s inappropriate behaviour in the scenes so far agree with The King’s verdict and the fact as Hotspur puts it that Hal is “the nimble-footed, madcap Prince of Wales.”
The next scene is the meeting of father and son. The King tells Hal that his behaviour is not acceptable, “Tell me else, could such inordinate and low desires…accompany the greatness of thy blood and hold their level with thy princely heart?” Hal agrees that he has behaved inappropriately and asks that his father accept his apology. “….faulty wandered and irregular, find pardon on my true submission.” The King tells Hal how he should act in public “…..expectance of thy time is ruined , and the soul of every man prophetically forethink thy fall.” Hal is told that his is seen by the public as an unworthy royal and they expect little from him as a king when his time comes. Henry explains that his youth was low key and discreet and he behaved appropriately. “Had I so lavish of my presence been, so common-hackneyed in the eyes of men, so stale and cheap to vulgar company”. The King explains that the public don’t treat the Prince of Wales as a celebrity because he is always seen by the public unlike the King in his youth because when the King did appear it was a special event. “Like a comet I was wondered at, that men would tell their children “There is he!” ” The King then proceeds to compare Hal to the previous king, Richard II whom Henry had overthrown.” Ambeled up and down with shallow jesters.”, “His great name profaned by their scorns.” This is a very accurate comparison to what we have seen of Hal so far in the play as he has a great title yet does not act the way expected of someone who owns it. Richard II “Enfoeffed himself to popularity”. The King did all he could to make the public like him, he even tried to act like them but in the end he did too much and became hated. “..began to loathe the taste of sweetness.”, “In that very line, Harry, standest thou.” I believe that Henry is trying to get Hal to behave appropriately because he does not want his family to be overthrown like he overthrew the king before him. Henry then starts to compare Hotspur and Hal. Hotspur is described as “Mars in swaddling clothes” and compares the actions of Hotspur “leads ancient lords and reverend bishops onto bloody battles” while Hal is stealing and become a drunk. The King even goes as far as to ask why Hal doesn’t join the enemy and battle against him. “To fight against me under Percie’s pay. To show how much thou art degenerate.” The strong reply of Hal to this point, “Do not think so, you shall not find it so!” suggests that Hal has realised the seriousness of his behaviour and what his father truly thinks of him. Hal’s next statement is a promise in which he declares he will “redeem all this on Percie’s head….be bold to tell you that I am your son, when I will wear a garment all of blood and stain my favours in a bloody mask which, washed away, will scour my shame with it…….and that shall be the day ….the gallant Hotspur , this all-praised knight and your unthought-of Harry chance to meet.” This is, in my opinion, the point where Hal dies and The Prince of Wales is born because The Prince understands the extend at which he has let his father down and is setting out to prove that he is worthy of his name he feels that to prove he has changed he must defeat the rebels and prove that he is not “the nimble-footed madcap Prince of Wales” and his is indeed the heir to the thrown and will become a worthy king. He swears that if he breaks this promises he “will die a thousand deaths” showing the sincerity of his promise.
Hotspur and company are preparing for battle. Hotspur asks Vernon about Hal and is furious when he finds out that “the madcap Prince” is “gallantly armed”. This scene refers frequently to mythology. “feathered Mercury”, “an Angel dropped down from the clouds to turn and wind a fiery Pegasus.” And “mailed Mars” These references suggest that when Hal and Hotspur meet in battle it will be the greatest battle the earth has ever seen. Hotspur is enraged by the fact that The Prince of Wales has the nerve to actually fight in battle against him showing that Hotspur thinks Hal is not worthy to fight him.
The final battle truly lives up to its hype. The now noble and honoured Prince of Wales starts to act like a Prince this is shown in his speech as it has changed from Prose to verse showing that he is a reformed character. Hal tells Lord Worcester that “ to save blood on either side, try fortune with him in a single fight.” This means that Hal will duel one on one with Hotspur to stop innocent lives being taken, a very noble act indeed. The Prince is loyal to his father and he saves the King in heat of battle against Douglas “the vile Scot”. The King is surprised that Hal’s change is so dramatic and forgives his past sins, “Thou hast redeemed thy lost opinion”. The play peaks when the wish of both Hotspur and Hal comes to pass as they prepare to battle. Hotspur does not accept Hal as an equal opponent and expects to dismiss of him in moments although his preference would be that of Hal being his equal with a sword. “would to God thy name in arms were now as great as mine!” . Hal disposes of Hotspur and treats the dead body of his rival with courtesy, speaking of “brave Percy” and declaring “fare thee well, great heart” he then covers Hotspur’s face in a showing of great respect. This proves beyond doubt that Hal is not “the nimble-footed madcap Prince of Wales” but a nobleman and a worthy heir to the throne. Hal even lets Falstaff who he cares for deeply claim that he was Hotspur’s bane even though he played dead until Hal mentioned disembowelling him.
Hal truly is born again as the Prince of Wales and this is shown so vividly in the battle scene. He is an entirely different man, he speaks a different language as the Prince, and he treats people with respect even if they are the greatest of foes. There is no argument against the fact that Hal was, at the beginning of the play; “the nimble-footed madcap Prince of Wales” just as there is nothing to suggest The Prince of Wales is not everything Hal promised he would be. Hal has become the Prince and we are left to believe he will become a great King.
